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Garbanzo DH Dominated by Gutierrez Villegas and Ragot at Cransworx Whistler
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WHISTLER, BC – August 13, 2013 – Crankworx Whistler’s Garbanzo Downhill course is infamous for being one of the longest and most challenging descents in the world of bike racing. Columbian Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas proved his strength and speed today on the grueling 7km track which drops over 3,400 vertical feet into the Whistler Valley. Gutierrez Villegas claimed the win on the men’s side with a personal best time of 12:28

WHISTLER, BC – August 13, 2013 – Crankworx Whistler’s Garbanzo Downhill course is infamous for being one of the longest and most challenging descents in the world of bike racing. Columbian Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas proved his strength and speed today on the grueling 7km track which drops over 3,400 vertical feet into the Whistler Valley.

Gutierrez Villegas claimed the win on the men’s side with a personal best time of 12:28.24. The second fastest man was Sam Blenkinsop(NZ) +7.43 and in third, Remi Gauvin(CAN) +20.47.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for the last three years of racing the Garbanzo Downhill,” says winner Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas who shaved an entire ten seconds off of his time from last year. “I had a great training run and have been training hard and learning everyday – it all came together and I am very happy!”

The women did not disappoint today showing they have the strength necessary to take on this challenging course. Taking first place was Emmeline Ragot of France at 14:19.83 who was coming right off a win in Mont St. Anne. Emmeline’s time was a record breaker for the women’s race, shaving nine seconds off of the previous record. In second place was Claire Buchar(CAN) +19.84 and in third, Holly Feniak(CAN) +29.49.

This race is the ultimate stamina test for the World Cup racers since they usually train for maximum speed for the duration of 3-4 minutes. The Garbanzo track has them descending three times as long as that- referred to by some as a downhill Enduro race. The most successful riders have to find the fastest pace they can sustain for a long period of time and just hang on through some of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s most aggressive terrain. Fast and dry conditions from the hot Whistler summer added to the already challenging course today and required riders to bring their technical skills to the show.

The webcasts are live streamed at www.crankworx.com and www.redbull.com/bike. Google Hangouts featuring athletes and their perspectives and thoughts about the event will follow each event streaming live at www.crankworx.com or at https://plus.google.com/+Crankworx/.

Wednesday, August 14

Fox Air DH - 3:15pm-5:30pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Google Hangout – 5:45pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Thursday, August 15

Teva Best Trick Showdown – 3:45pm-6:00pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Google Hangout – 6:00pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Ultimate Pump Track Challenge – 7:45pm-9:15pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Friday, August 16

GIANT Dual Slalom – 5:45pm-8pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Google Hangout – 8:15pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Saturday, August 17

Red Bull Joyride – 4:00pm-7:00pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Google Hangout – 7:15pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

Sunday, August 18

Canadian Open DH – 2:30pm-5:00pm PDT / UTC -7 hours

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August 9-18, 2013, the world’s best downhill, slopestyle and enduro riders will migrate to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for the 10th Annual Crankworx Whistler. Crankworx Les 2 Alpes will take place July 6 – 14, 2013 and is the only Crankworx event to take place outside of North America. High-summer’s convergence of all things freeride, Crankworx is a 10-day festival of epic endurance, supreme flow, monster air and vertical-dropping riding. A time-tested stage for gravity-fed mountain biking, Crankworx has forged the future of freeride, launched careers and raised up a spectacle out of dirt, sweat and cheers. Feel the impact. Embrace the amplitude. Experience the awe that is Crankworx Whistler 2013.